Seem vs. Appear — What's the Difference?

To give the impression of being in a certain way; appear to be

To become visible

Used to call attention to one's impression or understanding about something, especially in weakening the force of a following infinitive

To be shown or included

To appear to be probable or evident

To come into existence

(copulative) To appear; to look outwardly; to be perceived as.

To give the impression of being in a certain way; seem

(obsolete) To befit; to beseem.

To be likely or evident

To appear, or to appear to be; to have a show or semblance; to present an appearance; to look; to strike one's apprehension or fancy as being; to be taken as.

To come or perform before the public

To befit; to beseem.

(Law) To present oneself formally before a court as defendant, plaintiff, or counsel.

Give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect;

To be published or made available to the public

Seem to be true, probable, or apparent;

(intransitive) To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.

Appear to exist;

(intransitive) To come before the public.

Appear to one's own mind or opinion;

(intransitive) To stand in presence of some authority, tribunal, or superior person, to answer a charge, plead a cause, etc.; to present oneself as a party or advocate before a court, or as a person to be tried.

(intransitive) To become visible to the apprehension of the mind; to be known as a subject of observation or comprehension, or as a thing proved; to be obvious or manifest.

To seem; to have a certain semblance; to look.

(transitive) To bring into view.

To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.

To come before the public; as, a great writer appeared at that time.

To stand in presence of some authority, tribunal, or superior person, to answer a charge, plead a cause, or the like; to present one's self as a party or advocate before a court, or as a person to be tried.

To become visible to the apprehension of the mind; to be known as a subject of observation or comprehension, or as a thing proved; to be obvious or manifest.

To seem; to have a certain semblance; to look.

Appearance.

Give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect;

Come into sight or view;

Be issued or published;

Seem to be true, probable, or apparent;

Come into being or existence, or appear on the scene;

Appear as a character on stage or appear in a play, etc.;

Present oneself formally, as before a (judicial) authority;